Where to buy metal for my projects

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I used to work as an industrial welder 23 years ago and left for another career. I'm getting back into welding for a hubby. I'm finding that steel is expensive or the place I go to is just way overpriced. I have bought metal from a Metal Supermarket in Ottowa Ontario Canada a few timesI paid the followingHOT ROLLED 44W ROUND BAR 0.625" DIA             30" long at $24HOT ROLLED 1018 ROUND TUBE 4.000" OD x 3.750" ID x 0.125" WALL            at 24" long  $87HOT ROLLED 1018 FLAT BAR ASTM-A36 0.188" x 12.000"          24" long at $50.48HOT ROLLED 44W CHANNEL 2.000" x 1.000" x 0.188"       24" long at $13.78These are in Canadian prices. Am I paying too much or is this was metal is going for?What is a good source to find metal at reasonable prices? Are there some hidden jams even if it is rusted? I bought a sandblaster so buying it rusted is not a problem
Reply:Look pretty good to me?
Reply:Salvage, got to become a collector and now it has value, kind of hidden to people not in the know.  When I have to buy a piece I go to the yard but I make it a point to snatch it up when I can.  Its a lighter world than it used to be. I donjt wanna build all from scratch anymore if humanly possible not to and instead of finding hi priced steel I look for low price cabinet to start with.  Those gas grills are tossed by the gazillions, lots of appliances and can unsheet a washer and dryer in a jif and as a bonus pre finished.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Modern mig allows sheet work, built some grips for stairs last week from tube from some toy was headed to the junk.  Let friends know you want and network some.   I used to treat myself to some strip and light angle but seem to find what it takes somehow.

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Reply:Modern mig allows sheet work, built some grips for stairs last week from tube from some toy was headed to the junk.  Let friends know you want and network some.   I used to treat myself to some strip and light angle but seem to find what it takes somehow.   Becomes instinct after a bit to recover useful pieces.  I gut most of it in to stock if I am not building directly with it. So many free bends that way also.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Sberry has the best way Collette over time.I am lucky to have suppliers where sell under $1,000. I will buy new $250 to $500.00 and get selection of steel.The rest collecting too for my steel needs.Dave

Originally Posted by gpeters

I used to work as an industrial welder 23 years ago and left for another career. I'm getting back into welding for a hubby. I'm finding that steel is expensive or the place I go to is just way overpriced. I have bought metal from a Metal Supermarket in Ottowa Ontario Canada a few timesI paid the followingHOT ROLLED 44W ROUND BAR 0.625" DIA             30" long at $24HOT ROLLED 1018 ROUND TUBE 4.000" OD x 3.750" ID x 0.125" WALL            at 24" long  $87HOT ROLLED 1018 FLAT BAR ASTM-A36 0.188" x 12.000"          24" long at $50.48HOT ROLLED 44W CHANNEL 2.000" x 1.000" x 0.188"       24" long at $13.78These are in Canadian prices. Am I paying too much or is this was metal is going for?What is a good source to find metal at reasonable prices? Are there some hidden jams even if it is rusted? I bought a sandblaster so buying it rusted is not a problem
Reply:If you are a job shop cant afford to clean small steel where all the welds go and hunt for it all, some stock makes sense.  At one point way back I was going to scour for a couple 6 inch channels, steel was down, I priced them and couldnt sandblast for that and should have built some big projects right then. Start of a cart there.  Its had a couple revisions, I havnt updated a few pics but it holds 2x now. Was meant as a prototype placeholder for a real service cart and it worked out so well we never replaced it.

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Last edited by Sberry; 8 Hours Ago at 07:26 PM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Most of these have had a little update but some worked out way better than I ever had planned.   That is an old pic, the last one was a cart my neighbor gave to me and we found a stripped fridge door fit it perfect, had good wheels.  It has been built and had a rev since the pic, also has 2x the stock, elect kit removed and replaced with drilling.

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Last edited by Sberry; 8 Hours Ago at 07:34 PM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:This had been around and I was in a remod phase and it had become a catcher and on the way out the door realized it was perfect as I wheeled it past.  I had crap shelf for battery tools for wayyyyyy too long and this was ideal and took an hour vs a week and fit ideal.

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Reply:I have dealt and deal with metal supermarket.  It is a convenience store,so typically you pay more than at a steel yard for new stock.  Often I can buy 20 feet from my supplier for less than a few feet of the same stock from metal supermarket. They get steel where I buy steel. However, the prices you listed look really good to me if you got it from metal supermarket, especially. My metal supermarker sales material based of price he paid not market. So, if he has old inventory, then the price might be lower.  Metal supermarket definitely has a niche.  I buy small quantities from them multiple times per year.Last edited by tapwelder; 3 Hours Ago at 12:13 AM.